Archive: April 2017

April 16, 2017

Saturday 15 April 2017.
THE MAGPIE SALUTE live at Under The Bridge @ Chelsea F.C.,London.
The Magpie Salute play the last of four shows at Under The Bridge @ Chelsea F.C.
The band feature former THE BLACK CROWES guitarist Rich Robinson.
The band also includes former Black Crowes members Marc Ford and Sven Pipien as well as
Rich Robinson band members Matt Slocum, Joe Magistro, Adrien Reju and Katrine Ottosen.
After selling out their four-night New York residency at The Gramercy Theatre, The Magpie Salute
have announced their first ever shows on these shores...their first in Europe...
Together with songs by The Magpie Salute, the band will be performing tracks from
The Black Crowes back-catalogue, solo songs by Rich Robinson and more.
Like their debut shows in New York in January they will change the setlist around each night.
This 550 capacity venue is a superb venue to see a band with its mix of standing and seats for a perfect view
along with great music memorabilia on the walls.
I have seen The Black Crowes around a dozen times over the past 30 years including The Pantages
in Los Angeles in 1995 and supporting The Rolling Stones at Wembley Stadium in 1995 and Aerosmith
at Wembley Stadium in 1999.
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Always nice to be at this state-of-the-art venue.
Lots of The Black Crowes hardcore fans are here as when asked by Rich Robinson during the show
"how many had come to two shows or more?",many hands went up.
THE MAGPIE SALUTE arrive on stage at 8.30pm and are on for a nice long 2 hours 25 mins.
We have the full compliment of musicians as the New York shows with ten on stage including
three guitarists and three female backing singers.
The setlist is frankly incredible as only a handful of songs were played on any of the other nights.
They must have played over 60 different songs over the course of the four nights here.
Rich Robinson has a nice selection of guitars and is changing his guitar after every song.
As promised we get loads of The Black Crowes songs,solo songs and some covers.
After 30 mins there were a few slower paced songs and later on we had a couple of extended jams
with superb duelling guitars and keyboards at full tilt.
Their blues rock sound is just sooo cool.
How Rich and the band just play so many different songs each night is just amazing.
A great show.
Full setlist played tonight...
No Speak No Slave (The Black Crowes cover)
Stare It Cold (The Black Crowes cover)
Let Me Share the Ride (The Black Crowes cover)
Down the Road (Rich Robinson song)
Call Me Faithful (Marc Ford cover)
Time to Leave (Rich Robinson song)
Oh Josephine (The Black Crowes cover)
Darling of the Underground Press (The Black Crowes cover)
Sister Luck (The Black Crowes cover)
Laila II (Agitation Free cover)
Goin' Down South (R.L. Burnside cover)
Eclipse the Night (Rich Robinson song)
I'm Free (Marc Ford cover)
Rollin' Over (Small Faces cover)
Every Picture Tells a Story (Faces cover)
Oh! Sweet Nuthin' (The Velvet Underground cover)
Good Morning Captain (The Black Crowes cover)
Paint an 8 (The Black Crowes cover)
Tied Up and Swallowed (The Black Crowes cover)
Rich Robinson said "pretend we have gone offstage and have come back for an encore".
(Only) Halfway to Everywhere (The Black Crowes cover)
Thorn in My Pride (The Black Crowes cover)
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www.underthebridge.co.ukVisit the venue website for upcoming gigs list info.
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This gig was number 6600 i have seen since 1973...yes 6600.

Saturday 15 April 2017.
This one is mainly for the ladies.
Here is a detailed, up-to-date 7,000 word guide on the best perfume to use for every situation.
www.jenreviews.com/best-perfume/Click here to learn all about perfumes.

Friday 14 April 2017.
Alison Krauss recently joined Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves performing at a tribute concert honouring Merle Haggard. Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard took place on the one-year anniversary of Haggard’s death at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, where Alison Krauss performed on Merle classic, ‘If I Could Only Fly’ with country artist, Jamey Johnson.
27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss returned this year with a brand new album, ‘Windy City’
released on Decca, to some great reviews.

Thursday 13 April 2017.
10cc + Iain Hornal live at The Palladium,London.
10cc were massive in the the 1970s with eleven Top 10 hits including three number ones – Rubber Bullets,
I’m Not In Love and Dreadlock Holiday – it’s no surprise the band has sold 15 million albums in the UK alone.
Every member of 10cc was a multi-instrumentalist, singer, writer and producer, and the writing teams frequently switched partners, so that Godley/Gouldman or Creme/Stewart compositions were not uncommon.
Godley and Creme left the band in 1976 to make solo albums and critically acclaimed music videos.
Co-founder Graham Gouldman, who leads the current line-up, puts 10cc’s longevity down to the quality and individuality of the songs. “They don’t seem to date – they’re original. We never followed any trend, we simple wrote for our own pleasure. The fact that the songs are being played as often on the radio today as they ever were. shows how true that is,” he says."
"The current band is as near as you’re ever going to get to hearing the perfect 10cc,” says Gouldman.
Graham Gouldman is the only original member...last date of UK tour...
The live band’s line-up is:
Graham Gouldman - bass, guitars, vocals
Rick Fenn - lead guitar, vocals, bass
Paul Burgess - drums, percussion
Mick Wilson - vocals, percussion, guitar, keyboards
Keith Hayman - keyboards, guitar, bass, sax, vocals
Paul has worked with 10cc from the beginning and Rick joined the live band in the mid-‘70s.
I saw them five times in their 70s heyday including in 1976 when they were the main support
to The Rolling Stones legendary concert at Knebworth when they were billed above Lynyrd Skynyrd.
I saw them a couple of years ago at The Royal Albert Hall which was really good.
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Iain Hornal arrived on stage at 7.30pm and played for 25 mins.
He has a full band tonight but he said he was solo acoustic for all the other dates on the tour.
Hornal’s debut album features contributions from a whole host of musical friends including guests appearances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dan Gillespie-Sells and Ciaran Jeremiah of The Feeling, and in a rare collaboration, two original members of 10cc Graham Gouldman and Kevin Godley.
10cc arrived on stage at 8.20pm and played for 1 hour 45 mins.
It was pretty much a greatest hits setlist along with a few choice album tracks.
So many great hit songs that i saw them perform on Top Of The Pops in the 1970s.
Also a few of their art pop gems from their albums.
Lots of great harmonies from the band and a stunning acapella version of 'Donna'.
A great show.
Full setlist played tonight...
The Wall Street Shuffle
Art for Art's Sake
Life Is a Minestrone
The Dean and I
Good Morning Judge
Clockwork Creep
Old Wild Men
Feel the Benefit
The Things We Do for Love
Silly Love
Somewhere in Hollywood (with a video with Kevin Godley on vocals)
Baron Samedi
I'm Mandy Fly Me
I'm Not in Love...a number one in 1975...
Dreadlock Holiday...a number one in 1978...
Encore:
Ready to Go Home
Donna (acapella).....debut single from 1972...
Rubber Bullets...a number one in 1973...

Wednesday 12 April 2017.
CARO EMERALD + IRIT DEKEL live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
Caro aged 35 ,is a Dutch pop/jazz/swing singer who is massive back in her home country.
Caro is also very popular in the UK as this show is sold out and another London show at The Roundhouse
on 29 April 2017 has been added due to public demand as part of her UK tour.
Her debut album went to number four in the UK charts.
In April 2013, a second studio album 'The Shocking Miss Emerald' was released.
It went to No. 1 in the UK album chart and it remained in the UK charts for an entire year.
Both albums have sold over a million copies each worldwide.
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IRIT DEKEL arrived on stage at 7.30pm and played for 30 mins.
Irit from Israel looked and dressed as if she was from a Parisienne beat club in the 1960s.
Her three piece band comprises acoustic guitar,accordion and trombone.
She played some tracks from her recently released album that the crowd liked.
A cool jazzy set that ended with a cover of R.EM. 'Shiny Happy People'.
CARO EMERALD arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played for 1 hour 40 mins.
A pregnant Caro took to the stage proudly showing off her bump in a short, black jersey dress, bomber jacket
and pumps as she kicked off her performance with a great band.
This 2017 tour is entitled' Emerald Island' - the title of her latest 6 track EP - and there was a big screen
showing images related to it.
I have seen Caro a couple of times on tv but do not really know any of her material.
From the start it is a surprisingly lively infectious sound with lots of percussion and brass.
It certainly had a kind of 'Tropical Pop/Jazz' feel to it.
Caro played some tracks from her new EP including 'Never Ever' and 'Whatchugot'.
For the last 30 mins the entire crowd are dancing and clapping along to big tracks including
'Liquid Lunch' and 'A Night Like This'.
An enjoyable show that was better than expected.
Full setlist played tonight...
The Dark
Riviera Life
Back It Up
Tangled Up
The Maestro
Stuck
Dr. Wanna Do
Instrumental
Tahitian Skies
The Ghost of You
Quicksand
Instrumental
Never Ever
Absolutely Me
You Don't Love Me
Just One Dance
Liquid Lunch
That Man
Encore:
Nature Boy (Nat King Cole cover)
A Night Like This
Whatchugot

Tuesday 11 April 2017.
Another musician sadly passes away.
J. Geils has been found dead at his Massachusetts home at age 71.
John Warren Geils Jr was the leader of the J. Geils Band, best known for the no 1 global hit ‘Centrefold’.
In February 1982, after the song hit #1 in the US, "Centerfold" peaked at number three in the UK Top 40, earning The J. Geils Band their only major hit single in the UK, although follow-up "Freeze-Frame" was a minor hit.
They never came to the UK that much but I did see them headline Hammersmith Odeon in 1979 and
supporting The Rolling Stones at Wembley Stadium in 1982.

Tuesday 11 April 2017...7.10pm to 11pm...
TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST - The Auction - Christies, 8 King Street,St James's,London SW1.
Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. In particular, the charity aims to reduce the spread of HIV and promote good sexual health (including safe sex); to provide services on a national and local level to people with, affected by, or at risk of contracting HIV; and to campaign for greater public understanding of the impact of HIV and AIDS.
I have been to this a few times before so I know it is a very nice event.
Around 500 guests here at Christies who are the worlds oldest fine art auctioneer.
Faces here included Nancy Dell'Olio,Wayne Sleep,pop opera act Blake,drag dj Jodie Harsh,
Kate Moss fave dj Fat Tony and fashion designer Daniel Lismore.
Most of the auction art & items are on display on the walls and in the main rooms.
At 8.15pm guests are seated in the auction room for an hour as the items are bid on.
Complimentary Paul Bara champers,prosecco,vodka cocktails,gin cocktails throughout the evening
and canapés before the auction and a full buffet after the auction.
www.tht.org.ukVisit their website here for more info.

Monday 10 April 2017.
THE PRETENDERS + ROBERT VINCENT live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
Pretenders play a one off UK show after their American tour and they return for a full UK tour in October.
I have seen The Pretenders around 15 times since 1979 when they headlined The Nashville Pub
and supported The Who at Hammersmith Odeon.
The rock band fronted by Chrissie Hynde, who formed in 1978, will be playing their greatest hits
as well as music from their tenth studio album, and first release for eight years, 'Alone'.
Original drummer Martin Chambers is also still playing with the band.
Pretenders have had 13 Top 40 hits in the UK including a number one with 'Brass in Pocket' in 1979.
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ROBERT VINCENT arrives on stage at 7.30pm and plays for 30 mins.
Support act is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool who has help from his mate on stand up bass.
Some good lyrics and the vocals were crystal clear.
Guests spotted in the crowd tonight included Jeff Beck and Sex Pistol Glen Matlock.
THE PRETENDERS arrive on stage at 8.35pm and play for 90 mins.
Chrissie Hynde looks nowhere near her age of 65 as she projects real rock star coolness.
Chrissie and the band are dressed great in rock n roll clothing.
Her current guitarist is dishing out some nifty guitar sounds.
Chrissie's vocals are nice and clear as she mixes new album tracks with older classics.
The sold out crowd are up and dancing after around 30 mins.
A great show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Alone
Gotta Wait
Message of Love
Private Life
Down the Wrong Way (Chrissie Hynde song)
Hymn to Her
Talk of the Town
Back on the Chain Gang
Stop Your Sobbing (The Kinks cover)
I'll Stand by You
Don't Get Me Wrong
My City Was Gone
Mystery Achievement
Middle of the Road (Martin Chambers drum solo intro)
Encore:
Let's Get Lost
Thumbelina
Up the Neck
Brass in Pocket
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Check aftershow page review of the afterparty.

Friday 07 April 2017.
Imelda May highly anticipated new album 'Life Love Flesh Blood' is released on Decca Records.
Recorded over seven days in Los Angeles and produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett.
Opening bluesy ballad 'Call Me' is a great opening track.
The album features some stunning guitar licks from Jeff Beck on 'Black Tears' and Jools Holland plays on
'When It's My Time'.
It is her most personal collection to date as it comes after the end of her 18 year marriage and a change of
image as her trademark rockabilly sound and quiff hairstyle have gone.
Her stunning strong vocals dominate every track with pure clarity.
You can hear why Imelda is one of Ireland's most celebrated female singers.
The album is certain to take her to the next level.
Full track-list of the album...
Call Me
Black Tears [feat. Jeff Beck]
Should've Been You
Sixth Sense
Human
How Bad Can A Good Girl Be
Bad Habit
Levitate
When It's My Time [feat. Jools Holland]
Leave Me Lonely
The Girl I Used To Be
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Imelda will tour the UK and Ireland from 4 to 31 May to promote it
Includes a London headline show at The Palladium on Thursday 18 May 2017.

Sunday 09 April 2017.
STING + THE LAST BANDOLEROS + JOE SUMNER live at Hammersmith Apollo,London.
Sting plays the first of two sold out shows at Hammersmith Apollo.
Only three British shows on his European Tour including these two at Hammersmith to promote his album.
No real surprise that these shows sold out well in advance.
Released Nov 2016 '57th & 9th' is Sting's twelfth solo studio album and his first rock album in 13 years.
Sting will be joined by a 3-piece band including his longtime guitarist, Dominic Miller, plus Josh Freese (drums) and Rufus Miller (guitar). Support from singer/songwriter Joe Sumner as well as San Antonio-based Tex Mex band, The Last Bandoleros.
I saw The Police in 1979 and and four times on their massive 2007/2008 reunion world tour.
Twice at Twickenham Stadium Sept 2007, Wembley Arena in Oct 2007 and Hyde Park in June 2008.
I have seen Sting around 20 times since 1985.
Sting has sold over a staggering 100 million albums when you add The Police and solo sales together.
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JOE SUMNER plays a short set of 15 mins or so.
He is Stings son and actually does sound and look like his dad.
Sting came on stage and joined him for a song.
Joe's young daughter ( Stings grand-daughter) ran on stage to hug him which was sweet.
THE LAST BANDOLEROS arrived on stage at 8.20pm and played a lively 20 mins.
Sting joined them for their last song which was their debut single "Where Do You Go?”.
STING arrives on stage at 8.55pm and played for around 1 hour 45 mins.
The stalls standing area below is rammed solid tonight.
I have a nice seat in the third row centre of the balcony.
In front of me are Trudie Styler,Bob Geldof ,Jimmy Nail and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Sting plays a superb setlist mixing new album tracks,his solo hits and some classics from The Police.
Sting still looks amazingly lean and fit for his 65 years and wears his trademark simple tight t-shirt.
The band are all top notch and the sound quality is perfect.
His longtime guitarist Dominic Miller plays supreme deft licks all night and his son Rufus is on second guitar.
Both the support acts are on stage the entire show as his backing vocals and add great swaggering harmonies.
That means it is a family affair as both Sting and Dominic are playing with their sons on stage.
Different genres are confidently mixed as we get rock,pop,jazz,reggae ,dub,punk and folk through the evening.
The electric atmosphere tonight reached boiling point as the massive hits of The Police were played
in the second half and all the crowd are singing along loudly.
A totally excellent show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Synchronicity II (The Police song)
Spirits in the Material World (The Police song)
Englishman in New York
I Can't Stop Thinking About You
One Fine Day
She's Too Good for Me
I Hung My Head
Fields of Gold
Down, Down, Down
Petrol Head
Shape of My Heart
Pretty Young Soldier
Message in a Bottle (The Police song)
Ashes to Ashes (David Bowie cover) (sung by Joe Sumner)
50,000
Walking on the Moon (The Police song)
So Lonely (The Police song)
Desert Rose
Roxanne / Ain't no Sunshine (The Police song)
Encore:
Next to You (The Police song)
Every Breath You Take (The Police song)
Second encore :
Fragile
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Check aftershow page for the great afterparty.

Saturday 08 April 2017.
MELANIE C + ALEX FRANCIS live at Shepherds Bush Empire,London.
My fave Spice Girl is promoting her seventh solo album 'Version Of Me' with a European Tour.
As a solo artist she has had 12 Top 40 hit singles including 2 Number Ones.
I saw The Spice Girls twice in their 1990s heyday as well as the four of their reunion shows in 2007/2008
when they played seventeen shows at The 02 Arena but i do not recall ever seeing Melanie C live as a solo artist.
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I catch 15 mins of the 30 mins set from the support act ALEX FRANCIS.
The songs i heard where pretty good.
During the interval there are big cheers from the crowd as SPICE GIRL GERI HORNER
takes her seat in the vip area right of stage in Level One.
Also here was leading booking agent JOHN GIDDINGS who is Melanie C agent as well as
The Isle Of Wight Festival promoter and agent to Iggy Pop,Madonna,Blondie and many more.
The show is sold out and i am looking down on a totally rammed floor standing area.
The gay community are out in force.
MELANIE C arrives on stage at 8.55pm and plays for around 85 mins.
The Adidas tracksuit has long gone as Melanie is wearing a sleeveless dress that exposes all her tattoos.
Melanie is clearly enjoying herself as she works up a sweat from the start by dancing and twirling across
the stage and head banging away.
The first half of the show mainly focused on tracks from the new album and the second half had more hits.
Melanie has a very friendly stage manner that the fans love and parts of the second felt felt like an
Ibiza nightclub as the big uptempo hits kicked in.
An enjoyable show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Anymore
Escalator
Version of Me
Room for Love
Something for the Fire
Northern Star
Dear Life
Unravelling
Human (Rag N Bone Man cover)
Numb
Loving You Better
Never Be the Same Again (a number one hit in 2000)
Our History
Blame
Say You'll Be There (Spice Girls song)
Encore:
Hold On
Think About It
I Turn to You (a number one hit in 2000)

Friday 07 April 2017...3pm to 8.30pm...
THE LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL - The Truman Brewery , Brick Lane ,London E1.
Returning for 2017, the London Coffee Festival is the UK’s largest coffee and artisan food event, a celebration of London's vibrant coffee culture featuring gourmet coffee, speciality tea, artisan food, demonstrations from world-class baristas, live music and a comprehensive ‘lab’ seminar programme that will educate even the keenest of coffee lovers. Visitors can learn about the various ways to make and brew coffee at home, taste signature drinks and go on an immersive coffee journey with UCC Coffee.
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Very busy at this massive event over two levels and many different rooms.
Gets a bit hot and humid in here.
You can also pop in to Rough Trade East which is just a few yards away.
Thankfully i have a wristband for the press area which has it's own bar and plenty of seating.
In there I had a few complimentary Espresso Martinis and Baileys Flat White Martinis.
Shame that the drinks came in plastic glasses though.
They are expecting around 5000 visitors each day.
Over 100 different coffee brands are here from small names to the big boys including Starbucks.
Lots of coffee drinks samples from all the stands along with other drinks and food samples including
strawberries & cream,chocolate,pastries and other nibbles.
There is a stage area where half a dozen acts are playing 30 mins sets.
THE BRASS FUNKEYS were the best of the bunch as the eight member band feature a six piece brass
section (trumpet,sax,trombone etc) at front of stage playing very lively cover versions including
'Killing In The Name'.
Well respected dj NORMAN JAY plays some house,funk,soul tunes.
He was awarded the MBE for services to music in 2002.
It is on this weekend only from Thurs 06 April to Sun 09 April.
www.londoncoffeefestival.comVisit their website here for more info and to buy tickets.

Thursday 06 April 2017.
ABC with The Southbank Sinfonia live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
ABC are performing their classic 1982 debut album 'The Lexicon of Love’ in its entirety for one final time.
It is without doubt one of my fave albums of the 1980s.
The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number-one and has been certified Platinum by the BPI.
The album features four UK Top 20 hit singles, including "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow",
"The Look of Love" and "All of My Heart".
The conductor tonight will be Anne Dudley who made significant orchestral contributions to the
Trevor Horn-produced "The Lexicon of Love" album.
I was at all three of their debut London shows at Hammersmith Odeon on the back
of the success of the album in 1982 and have seen them many times since.
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We have a sold out show tonight and there must be at least 60 musicians on stage as we have
a full orchestra and a full band with a superb female backing singer.
ABC with the orchestra and band were on stage for 1 hour 55 mins over two sets of 60 mins and 55 mins.
The first set was hit singles and a few tracks tracks from recent album 'The Lexicon of Love 2'.
The second set was the classic album 'The Lexicon of Love' in full track order.
The lush strings from the orchestra sound fantastic all through the evening.
Great to hear the hits of the first set and the new album tracks were decent enough.
The second set is fantastic with all those gems from 'The Lexicon of Love' album.
For the second set Martin Fry wears his trademark lame jacket.
For the second set the crowd are up and dancing and singing along to the tracks of their youth.
My fave song of theirs 'All of My Heart' is pure perfection.
A great show.
Full setlist played tonight...
FIRST SET
ABC medley orchestral overture
When Smokey Sings
Viva Love
Ten Below Zero
The Love Inside the Love
(How to Be a ) Millionaire
Kiss Me Goodbye
Confessions of a Fool
The Night You Murdered Love
Singer Not the Song
Be Near Me
SECOND SET - The Lexicon of Love album
Show Me
Poison Arrow
Many Happy Returns
Tears Are Not Enough
Valentine's Day
The Look of Love
Date Stamp
All of My Heart
4 Ever 2 Gether
Encore:
The Look of Love, Part Four
The Look of Love (Part One) (reprise)

Wednesday 05 April 2017...I went to three events tonight.
6.30pm to 7.30pm
THEAKSTON OLD PERCULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL - launch party -
Brown's Brasserie ,82 - 84 St Martins Lane,Covent Garden,London WC2.
Around 150 folks here in the first floor area of this venue.
This event is held in Harrogate from 20 - 23 July 2017.
They get loads of bit name authors to give Q&A sessions.
Complimentary wines,Theakston Old Peculier Beers and canapés.
All guests got a goodie bag with five Crime books and a bottle of Theakston Beer.
One of them does not come out until Jan 2018 but looks like being a massive seller.
Publishers Michael Joseph has won a new debut thriller, The Chalk Man by C J Tudor, in a nine-way publisher auction.
The book, due to publish on 11th January 2018 in hardback and e-book, is narrated by "Eddie" who receives a chalk drawing of a stick figure that hurtles him back to an innocent childhood game 30 years before which went terribly, terribly wrong. As history begins to repeat itself, it seems the game was never really over.
Since auction, the book has been sold to 27 territories have sold across the globe, including in the United States.
www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.comVisit their website here.
then
7.35pm to 8.30pm
FAY WELDON 'Death of a She Devil' - book launch party -
The Ivy,1 Henrietta Place,Covent Garden,London WC2.
Around 75 folks here in their newly renovated first floor space.
Style guru Peter York is here.
Famous author Fay Weldon has written over 40 books in her career.
Fay is here sitting in a chair and looking a bit frail as she is now aged 85.
The champers had finished but we had complimentary wines,beers and canapés.
then
STEVE STEVENS & BAND live at The Islington Academy,London.
Playing a set featuring his solo material,his fave rock covers and a couple of Billy Idol tracks.
Grammy award-winning rock guitarist ,songwriter and composer plays a rare London show.
Steve Stevens is one of the most original guitarists to emerge from the '80s rock scene.
This London show is the opening date on his European Tour.
This tour is between a season of gigs by Billy Idol in Las Vegas in March and May.
Long time Billy Idol guitarist ,Steve has played with many other artists including Michael Jackson.
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Steve Stevens & Band arrive on stage at 9.05pm and play for 1 hour 45 mins.
Now aged 57 Steve Stevens is still looking like a proper rock star with his trademark hairstyle.
His stunning guitar playing sound dominates most of the tracks played tonight.
The vocalist tonight did a good job on some tough cover versions including Led Zep.
Steve has a love of Flamenco guitar so there were a couple of songs featuring that style early on.
Steve tells about his love of British guitar bands.
Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Gus G who played an acoustic set earlier came on for the encores
playing some nice duelling electric guitar with Steve Stevens.
The sole Billy Idol track played was a brilliant 'Rebel Yell'.
I think most of the crowd including myself were hoping for three or four Billy Idol tracks tonight
but we have to respect it is a Steve Stevens show.
An enjoyable show and hopefully he will start playing regular shows in the UK.
Full setlist played tonight....
Crackdown
Day of the Eagle (Robin Trower cover)
Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson cover)
Flamenco.a.go.go
Cinecitta
Hellcats Take the Highway
Dazed and Confused (Jake Holmes cover) ( Led Zeppelin classic)
Atomic Playboys
Guitar Solo
Top Gun Anthem
Light My Fire (The Doors cover)
Prime Mover
Memory Crash
Rebel Yell (Billy Idol cover)
Encore:
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover) (with Gus G.)
Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin cover) (with Gus G.)

Wednesday 05 April 2017.
Paul Weller is to be a father for the eighth time this summer, having his third child with wife Hannah, bringing his tally of children to the same as fellow rockers Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Rod Stewart. A statement on the ex The Jam frontman's website said 'Hannah and baby are doing great and the whole family are looking forward to meeting the littlest Weller in the summer'.

Tuesday 04 April 2017...I went to two events tonight...
6.15pm to 9pm
CLASSIC BOAT AWARDS 2017 at The Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge,London SW1.
Founded in 1775, the Royal Thames Yacht Club is the oldest continuously operating yacht club in the world
as well as being the oldest royal yacht club.
Around 100 folks here at this historic club next door to The Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Around a dozen awards are given out.
Some amazing stories on the many years folks spend on restoring old boats.
Full articles on each winner are in the new issue of Classic Boat which is out tomorrow (Thursday).
Complimentary Monsigny champers,wines and nibbles for all guests.
www.classicboat.co.ukVisit the Classic Boat website here for more info and winners list.
then
9.45pm to 11.45pm
42ND STREET opening night after-party at One Embankment,London WC2.
Around 500 folks here for this opening night party for the main event that was held earlier.
42nd Street is opening in April at The Theatre Royal starring Sheena Easton – the Grammy Award winning artist who has sold over 20 million records around the world – is to make her West End debut in the forthcoming production of 42nd Street.
The production will open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and feature a cast of 50.
Sheena Easton sang with Prince on his classic 'U Got The Look' in the 1980s.
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The Duchess of Cambridge departed with a police escort and did not attend the after-party.
The Duchess of Cambridge was handed a pair of tap shoes onstage for the curtain call, after she joined stars including Morgan Freeman, Adam Garcia, Maureen Lipman, Rupert Graves, Anne Reid and Esther Rantzen at the red carpet opening of 42nd Street. Ahead of the show, The Duchess was greeted by the show's co-producer Lord Michael Grade, director Mark Bramble and 12 year old Ollie Duell, who suffers from a complex bowel condition and is being cared for by East Anglia's Children's Hospices, which the royal is patron of and the evening raised money for. Judy Murray, Anita Dobson, Bonnie Langford, Fay Ripley, Sue Johnston, Georgia May Foote and Sarah Hadland were also at Theatre Royal Drury Lane for the Tony Award winning show about a young woman from small-town America who tries to make it big on Broadway. Stars Sheena Easton celebrated with the 50 strong ensemble and further celebrity VIPs - including Raj Ghatak, Sara Cox, Pete Waterman, Chris Moyles, Paul Robinson, Debbie Kurup, Katya and Neil Jones, Jackie St Clair, Hannah Waddingham and Lizzie Cundy,Arlene Phillips - at the afterparty at One Embankment.
Complimentary wines,beers,fish & chips,lamb kebabs,burgers and canapés for all guests.
We left before the end but it was due to finish at 1am.

Monday 03 April 2017.
Jamiroquai have been quiet for a few years but fans have not forgotten them.
Jamiroquai's new album 'Automaton' first week sales made it #No.1 on iTunes in 38 countries across the world.
And it went Top 3 in 58 countries.

Monday 03 April 2017.
Inventor of the synth that changed pop music dies at 87.
Ikutaro Kakehashi, who founded the Roland Corporation and revolutionised electronic music in the 1980s and 90s, has died at the age of 87. The Japanese engineer invented a range of electronic drum machines and synthesisers used across the spectrum of popular music since the mid-1970s - from Prince to New Order, from Dr Dre to Kraftwerk.

Sunday 02 April 2017.
PET SHOP BOYS with Johnny Marr & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
This was show seven of the seven Teenage Cancer Trust Shows 2017 at The Royal Albert Hall.
I have seen PSB a few times including one of their special shows at The Royal Opera House in 2016.
I saw them play eight songs at Brixton Academy in Feb 2017 when they picked up The Godlike Genius Award
at The NME Awards.
PSB have sold many millions of records over their 30 year career ,scoring 22 Top 10 hits in the UK.
------------------------------------
Another sold out crowd for the last of The Teenage Cancer Trust shows at this venue.
PET SHOP BOYS were on stage for 1 hour 55 mins over two sets of 55 mins and 60 mins.
There must be at least 60 musicians on stage from the orchestra plus a few backing singers.
Johnny Marr joins them from the third song and then plays on some tracks and sits others out.
Some songs you hear him quite well and others he is drowned out by all the strings.
The strings and orchestra sounded great.
For their usual shows PSB have costume changes aplenty and superb big screen visuals but
that has all been dropped as Neil stays in a sombre suit all evening.
For some songs he is sitting on a stool reading the lyrics to lesser known songs.
A lot of hits were dropped to make way for songs more suitable for the orchestra.
A lot of the songs were slowed down to suit the orchestra sound.
PSB fans are always ready to get up and have a dance to their usual disco pop sound but tonight
they have to wait until the last three songs to get up and have a proper boogie.
An enjoyable show tonight but their usual show is better than orchestral for me.
Full setlist played...
FIRST SET
Left to My Own Devices (with Sally Bradshaw)
Tonight Is Forever
This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave (with Johnny Marr)
Rent (no Chris Lowe)
Later Tonight (no Chris Lowe)
New York City Boy
Miracles
The Survivors (with Johnny Marr)
Leaving (with Johnny Marr)
Jealousy (with Johnny Marr)
SECOND SET
Hold On
It Couldn't Happen Here
For All of Us (with Johnny Marr)
Can You Forgive Her?
Breathing Space (with Johnny Marr)
He Dreamed of Machines
Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin (with Johnny Marr)
Indefinite Leave to Remain (with Johnny Marr)
West End Girls (with Johnny Marr)
It's Alright (Sterling Void cover) (with Sally Bradshaw)
It's a Sin (with Johnny Marr)

Saturday 01 April 2017.
THE WHO + IMELDA MAY live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
This was show number six of the seven Teenage Cancer Trust Shows 2017 at The Royal Albert Hall.
The Who return to play their second TCT show this week at this venue.
The show will again feature all of their classic ' Tommy ' album tracks and a few other classics.
Scroll down to see my review of their first show on Thursday.
At the Thursday show The Who played a dozen songs from ' Tommy' that had not been played live by them
since 1989 and a couple that had not been played by them since 1969.
Support comes from Imelda May.
April 2017 Imelda May highly anticipated new album 'Life Love Flesh Blood' is released on Decca.
She will tour the UK and Ireland from 4 to 31 May to promote it.
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I spotted tv presenter Jeremy Clarkson going in to see The Who.
IMELDA MAY arrived on stage at 7.40pm and played a 35 mins set.
Imelda has brought her full band with her including two female backing singers.
She has a stunning voice and the band sounded great.
A great bunch of songs that went down well with The Who fans.
Full setlist played...
Call Me
When It's My Time
Human
Sixth Sense
Black Tears
Should've Been You
The Girl I Used To Be
THE WHO arrive on stage just before 9pm and play for two hours and are incredible.
Their Thursday show was totally mega but tonight was even slightly better.
Roger and Pete arrive on stage casually dressed the same as Thursday.
The big screen is again showing great pre-recorded images related to Tommy.
The setlist order was changed a bit as Thursday was two classics before Tommy and four after
and tonight it was straight into Tommy and there was seven classics after with an extra track
played tonight 'Love ,Reign O'er Me'.
The Who were on fire tonight.
Pete Townshend said that 'many of the tracks on Tommy are very difficult to play live but
i think i played them better tonight so I enjoyed it more tonight'.
He was not kidding as Pete was playing out of his skin and Roger was just top notch rock vocals.
Zak Starkey was mesmerising as his drumming were just brilliant.
A stunning show.
Again the show was filmed tonight but not used on the big screen tonight.
Afterwards the bootleg t-shirts outside with The Royal Albert Hall dates on which were £10 on Thursday
eventually went down to just £5 tonight so i had to have one.
Full setlist played tonight...
TOMMY SECTION STARTS
Overture
It's a Boy
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight to the Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson cover)
Christmas
Cousin Kevin
The Acid Queen
Do You Think It's Alright?
Fiddle About
Pinball Wizard
There's a Doctor
Go to the Mirror!
Tommy Can You Hear Me?
Smash the Mirror
It's a Boy (Reprise)
I'm Free
Miracle Cure
Sensation
Sally Simpson
Welcome
Tommy's Holiday Camp
We're Not Gonna Take It
TOMMY SECTION ENDS
I Can't Explain
Join Together
I Can See for Miles
Who Are You
Love, Reign O'er Me
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again

Friday 31 March 2017.
PAUL WELLER + KELLY JONES + STONE FOUNDATION live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
This was show number five of the seven Teenage Cancer Trust Shows 2017 at The Royal Albert Hall.
Paul Weller goes on a full UK tour after this show.
This week PW also confirmed a UK arena tour for early Feb/March 2018.
Paul Weller's 13th solo studio album 'A Kind Revolution' will be released 12th May 2017.
Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones plays a support set.
I saw the Jam half a dozen times as well as Style Council shows and Paul Weller solo.
I have seen Stereophonics several times.
-----------------------------
It's a Friday night and Paul Weller fans are keeping the bars at the venue very busy.
I saw Lynval Golding (guitarist in The Specials) by the guest list entrance.
STONE FOUNDATION arrive on stage at 7.30pm and play for 25 mins.
Their new album was produced by Paul Weller.
Their sound has hints of Paul Weller/Ocean Colour Scene.
KELLY JONES arrives on stage at 8.15pm and plays for 35 mins...He was introduced by Roger Daltrey.
It is billed as Kelly Jones but Adam and Jamie from The Stereophonics are backing him.
The drums are basic and there is also a four piece string quartet and the sound is semi acoustic.
Like Paul Weller he has played many TCT shows over the years.
An enjoyable set with tracks played including...
Indian Summer
Maybe Tomorrow
Graffiti On A Train
Dakota
PAUL WELLER is introduced on stage by Roger Daltrey and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Paul Weller and his band arrive on stage at 9.10pm and play for around 1 hour 55 mins.
One of those shows that was filmed but not used on the big screen here tonight.
Paul Weller has so much material he can pretty do much what he likes so he always throws
in a few new songs from his latest release.
After around half an hour we get some special guests joining Paul on stage who were
RONNIE WOOD and KELLY JONES to sing a great version of The Faces classic 'Ooh la la'.
Oddly enough I saw the same trio perform the same song at a Kelly Jones TCT show in 2012.
Ronnie Wood and Paul Weller both went to Kelly Jones wedding in County Clare,Eire in 2013.
One of those shows with some great bits but there were a couple of sections of three or four songs
that plodded along and were not that exciting.
Songs by The Jam as usual are kept to a minimum.
Set highlights included....
Man in the Corner Shop (The Jam song)
Ghosts (The Jam song)
Saturns Pattern
Ooh la la (The Faces cover ) ( with Ronnie Wood & Kelly Jones)
My Ever Changing Moods (Style Council cover)
Paperchase
Peacock Suit
Come On/Let's Go
Encore:
Up in Suze's Room
The Impossible Idea (dedicated to Noel Gallagher)
These City Streets
Start! (The Jam song)
Second encore :
The Changingman

Friday 31 March 2017.
Some startling figures on burglaries in the UK have been uncovered by The Sun Newspaper.
There have been over 2 million burglaries in the UK in the past six years...yes 2 million...
Around 17,000 frontline police jobs have been lost in the past six years.
Just five per cent of the 2.1million burglaries in Britain in the same period have resulted in a suspect being charged.
And of the £2billion in goods and valuables stolen in domestic and commercial raids, only seven per cent —
£137million-worth — was recovered.
Police cutbacks,DHSS cutbacks...someone please sort it out...

Thursday 30 March 2017...I went to three events tonight...
6pm to 7pm
Maddox Gallery x Bluebird - private view - Bluebird,350 Kings Road,Chelsea,London SW3.
Leading Soho gallery link up with one of Chelsea's most popular restaurants.
Around 100 Chelsea folks here at this restaurants new gallery space.
Some nice art on the walls including Andy Warhol.
Complimentary prosecco and tasty canapés from Bluebird restaurant.
then
7.15pm to 8.15pm
From Selfie to Self-Expression - private view - Saatchi Gallery ,Kings Road,Chelsea,London SW3.
A massive crowd of over 1000 guests at this huge gallery where The Rolling Stones Exhibitionism was held.
This was last year where I attended the opening night when all The Rolling Stones turned up.
A few faces here including actor Steven Berkoff,boxer Chris Eubank,hairdresser Nicky Clarke,
actor Hugh Quarshie ,Lady Colin Campbell and Dr Christian Jessen.
Also Ashley Walters,Ainsley Harriott and John Stapleton.
One of the huge rooms here has around 1000 selfies on the wall.
The exhibition will open from 31st March – 30th May 2017 and take over one entire floor of the Saatchi Gallery. The show will be the world’s first exhibition exploring the history of the selfie from Velazquez to the present day, while celebrating the truly creative potential of a form of expression often derided for its inanity. Showing alongside examples of many influential artists' work will be selfies that have quickly become icons of the digital era – from the beautiful and sublime to the mad, bad and downright dangerous.
Complimentary Pommery champers,beers and canapés for all guests.
www.saatchigallery.comVisit the Saatchi Gallery here for more info.
then
THE WHO live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
This was show four of the seven Teenage Cancer Trust Shows 2017 at The Royal Albert Hall.
The Who perform 'Tommy' (Sold Out)...opening night of their UK tour...
This concert will be the first time the full band have performed Pete Townshend’s
classic rock opera since 1989, and will include a selection of other Who classics.
The Who get the honour of playing the 100th Teenage Cancer Trust anniversary show tonight.
Roger Daltrey was the person instrumental in getting the TCT shows started.
I have seen The Who over 25 times since 1975 when Keith Moon was drumming for them.
--------------------------
Noel Gallagher was confirmed as the special guest support act in the afternoon but I decided to miss
his 30 mins set as i was at The Saatchi Gallery event.
During the interval I see boxing promoter Frank Warren and entertainment agent Jonathan Shalit.
Also spotted was long time manager of The Who Bill Curbishley.
In 1994 Curbishley assumed management of guitarist Jimmy Page. He was integral in the reuniting of Page and Plant, both former members of Led Zeppelin, in 1995. Despite failed attempts by others to reunite the pair, Curbishely was able to persuade the previously reluctant Plant to work with Page again, resulting in the highly successful Unledded album, video and world tour.
Before The Who arrive on stage we have a video about the great work that TCT does and around
20 of the teenagers who have stayed at TCT buildings come on stage to huge applause.
The venue is totally sold out with a fantastic atmosphere.
THE WHO arrive on stage at 8.55pm and play a stunning two hour show.
Roger (now aged 73) and Pete (now aged 71) are both dressed very casual.
We have a big screen showing pre-recorded images.
After a couple of songs Roger says "we were gonna play Tommy acoustic but that's changed".
So the whole show was with the full electric band.
Zak Starkey on drums does a powerful job.
Roger and Pete are both on top form as they tear through all those classic tunes.
Despite their age The Who seem to be getting better and better.
I have been to around 40 gigs this year and this show and Black Sabbath have been the best so far.
A totally mega show.
Full setlist played tonight....
I Can't Explain
Substitute
TOMMY SECTION STARTS
Overture
It's a Boy
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight to the Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson cover)
Christmas
Cousin Kevin
The Acid Queen
Do You Think It's Alright?
Fiddle About
Pinball Wizard
Go to the Mirror!
There's a Doctor
Tommy Can You Hear Me?
Smash the Mirror (Followed by a reprise of "It's a Boy")
I'm Free
Miracle Cure
Sensation
Underture
Sally Simpson
Welcome
Tommy's Holiday Camp
We're Not Gonna Take It
See Me, Feel Me
TOMMY SECTION ENDS
Won't Get Fooled Again
Join Together
Baba O'Riley
Who Are You

Thursday 30 March 2017.
Happy Birthday to Eric Clapton who is 72 today.
Happy Birthday to Radio 2 dj Johnnie Walker who is 72 today.

Wednesday 29 March 2017.
SUNNY AFTERNOON live at The New Wimbledon Theatre,London SW19.
Winner of the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Sunny Afternoon is an irresistible musical with slick theatricality and ingenious storytelling at its heart. It tells the captivating tale of how one of Britain’s greatest bands, The Kinks, rose to stardom.
Featuring over a dozen of their Iconic hits.
It got loads of great five and four star reviews when it was in The West End.
It had a two year run in The West End from Oct 2014 to Oct 2016 and is now on a full nationwide tour.
I went to the big party at The Cafe De Paris after the opening night but for some reason I never got along
to see the musical itself.Guests at the party included Ray Davies and Tony Banks (Genesis).
The show tonight is on for 2 hours 30 mins over two sets of 75 mins each.
There are are no scenery changes as such as the band equipment stays at the rear of the stage.
We have a stage extension which is unusual for a musical but it works well.
We have several male and female dancers for some songs.
It starts with the boys growing up in Muswell Hill and getting their first record contact in the early 1960s,
dealing with dodgy managers and getting banned from America after their first tour there.
You forget how much in-fighting there was was between Dave Davies and the other band members.
The actor who plays Dave Davies steals the show with loads of crazy rock n roll antics.
Some songs were played twice....an acoustic version and an electric version.
The crowd were all up singing and dancing for the last 10 mins.
A really great enjoyable evening.
Tracks played tonight included...
Lola
You Really Got Me
Sunny Afternoon
Dead End Street
A Well Respected Man
Dedicated Follower Of Fashion
Stop Your Sobbing
I Go To Sleep
Waterloo Sunset
This Time Tomorrow
All Day And All Of The Night
Days
Set Me Free
And many more.....